New Zealand - New School and New Baby... Coming Soon!

In the strange transition between schools, my blogs have floated away along with my normal schedule!  Yet here we are, already welcoming staff members back to NZ, and preparing to start receiving new students for January DTS in just 2 weeks!

The last few weeks have been difficult at times.  It's hard to say goodbye to people who have become such close friends, and also be around so many new faces while you process that sadness (the students of the DTS school which started in October have been here all December).

Dani and I have alternated between investing in new and old friendships, helping with kitchen and maintenance duties here on base, preparing for baby K's arrival, and trying to rest (to recover from outreach in Vanuatu and to prepare for parenthood - sleep while you don't have a newborn, right?)

The last two weeks have been intense, as our ultrasounds have shown that some of baby's measurements have not been increasing as quickly as the doctors would like.  So, the doctors would like to intervene soon to induce labor, while our midwife (and us!) would greatly prefer to see us go into labor naturally - but we all want "bubs" (as they call babies in New Zealand) to be healthy, whole, and happy.  In the midst of many weighty decisions, we have been reminded of how many things in life are outside our control, but also of how many privileges and blessings we receive from the one who is in control.

So we have prayed.  We have prayed for direction and wisdom in all these decisions.  We have prayed and asked Father God to release us from fear, pride, and worry.  We have prayed over baby K, for his/her health and safety.

And we have felt the presence of God, and His peace over us.  And we have been surrounded by love and care from family and friends sending their love across the miles, as well as wonderful support from our community of friends here.  And we have seen Dani's body progress more and more quickly as we trust God to do what we cannot.

So, we rest in the peaceful fact that our Father in Heaven knows every detail of our lives, and all things move forward in His mercy and love.  Thanks to everyone who has wished us well, and sent up their own prayers on our behalf.  We are so grateful for all the support we've been shown in this time.

New Zealand - There And Back Again (and a Journey to Hobbiton)

In the last 3 weeks we have overseen the chaos of finishing outreach tasks, packing up belongings, leaving Vanuatu, arriving back in NZ, unpacking, helping with graduation/ceremonies, and saying (too many) "goodbyes".  I've decided for a couple weeks not to write a blog, at least "until the dust settles!"  Now the students have (mostly) returned to their homes, and Dani and I have had time to reflect on this school.

It's always amazing when the teams return and log their activities to know that such a small group of people (28 students, 12 staff) could be used by God in such exciting ways.  Added together there have been 124 people in 4 countries who dedicated themselves to love Jesus, live in the Spirit, and learn to know Father God because of our presence there; there were 132 times when the teams prayed for people resulting in physical healing, or circumstances suddenly changing; there were over 7,000 people directly contacted - talked to, served, given medical treatment, and loved (hopefully with that same unconditional love that Jesus exemplifies to us!)  Our hearts are full as we watch the students gain hope that they can live a life that serves, and improves the lives of others (showing the world what God's heart is like). 

While the last 7 weeks has been really different for us and them, it has been a really beautiful lesson in obedience, knowing that if we (by serving in manual labor, cooking, etc.) are obeying God's direction for us to lift the hearts of the staff in Vanuatu (and give them breathing room enough that they can refresh the original vision they had to come, love, and revive that nation), then we have been successful.  He is still a God that desires "mercy" to the people around us, over "sacrifice" or any measure of our performance (Matt 9:13).

As we enter this week, we are excited to host our Van Andel family starting Friday, starting with taking Andrew & Megan plus our niece and nephew Nicola & Anthony to Hobbiton to visit the Lord of the Rings movie set!  Next week we will all get away to the beach for a few days of family time!

Now that we're in the land of fully functional wi-fi, I'll catch up with a few photos!

Dani and one (just one) of the many MANY delicious nutritious meals
(fittingly a balsamic bean salad - one of our most popular lunches this trip!)
that she made over the last 7 weeks to keep us all operating at our best!

The newest member of the Kirkwood family, Flash, our Toyota Camry 

(which our close friends Kimberly and Marcos gave to us - FREE of charge!!!
- both individually feeling that God had laid it on their hearts to bless us
as we prepare for our baby to come!  Thank you God!)

Vanuatu - And a Life Full of Blessings

Last Saturday was my birthday, and Dani rented us a sporty red Mazda (woo hoo!) so we could drive the circumference of the entire island (Efate is one of the only islands in Vanuatu that has a "sealed" road all the way around). On our way around we made a stop at Tanna Coffee (Vanuatu's biggest coffee maker) for a factory tour (and a Mocha), plus an epic picnic (with 7-Layer-Nacho-Dip) overlooking a beach with beautiful aqua-teal water, and we finished with a lazy drive around the island just talking and admiring the volcanic landscape and sprawling jungle.

We wrapped up the day by gathering all our friends who are here together at the clinic for Jello-cake and ice cream!

As we look toward leaving next week - and look forward to meeting up with all the other teams, hearing their stories, hosting some family visitors from the Solomon Islands, finally meeting our little one, and seeing both our sets of parents next year - I find myself reflecting on all the things I am thankful for. What a privilege this life is.

And as I wrap up the birthday festivities, I am reminded of how much I am blessed to have a wife who is so consistent, thoughtful, caring, and beautiful.

I'd encourage you today: Tell the people in your life who are absolute treasures that you're thankful for them.

Nothing lasts as long as it feels like it will, and there's a lot to be grateful for when we stop to notice.

- Gabe

Vanuatu: Back in Business

After a wonderful visit with family in the Solomon Islands (including many evening conversations as we caught up and shared ideas, a plethora of late-night board-games, and hours of playing "Pirates" with Nicola and Anthony as we sailed my hammock to "distant and magical lands!")...

We're back in Vanuatu! And we've had a blast networking with the rich international community and the visiting missions-groups here in Port Vila (including a group working with "Jesus Film" recording new languages in which to produce the video). Gabe has had opportunities to start a new carpentry, landscaping, and painting projects to keep the "Family Care Centre" in ship-shape, Dani has helped welcome people into the clinic and taken their basic information to keep things running smooth for the nurses.

Many days we are met with unexpected opportunities to show God's love, such as praying for Jimmy, a man we met while out walking who has a broken leg that is slow to heal, and inviting him to come to the next free clinic. Or visiting the jail, where Gabe had the opportunity to share with the inmates a message from Deuteronomy 30:11-16.

What a rich time it was to be able to share hope with men walking through difficult times, saying "You have a God who is not far away! He gives you opportunities to choose between things that lead to life and ones that lead to death, but He WANTS to see you choose life! If you are feeling like there is no hope for you, that is not the voice of your Father, because He will not convict you to take away your hope. Right here in verse 19 He calls out to you 'Choose LIFE, that you may live' because he wants to give you hope that life does not end here. You can have good friends, see your needs met, have a healthy family... God wants you to live with hope, God wants you to choose paths that lead to life!"

Solomon Islands: Wait, what?!?

This week we've taken a bit of time off. Our Vanuatu tourist visa ran out, and we were asked to renew it. That meant another fee and a bit of paperwork. So, we decided instead to put that money toward plane tickets, leave the country briefly, and get another free tourist visa upon re-entry into Vanuatu.

So, yesterday we packed one backpack for both of us, drove to the almost-empty airport of Port Vila, boarded a Boeing 737 with about 20 other passengers (including a super pumped-up French weightlifting team) and about 200 empty seats... and flew to the Solomon Islands!

We were greeted by Andrew, our brother in law who had managed to keep the whole thing under wraps, and finally, we bounced our way down the dirt road to our astonished (slightly confused) niece Nicola and nephew Anthony, and Dani's very surprised sister Megan. Much smiling, laughing, and catch-up time has ensued since that moment.

Now to enjoy one of life's rare treasures - unexpected time with family! I could say more, but duty calls and we're all off for an ice cream outing!

- Gabe

Vanuatu: and the unpredictable process of healing

I'm often surprised by what God prioritizes, and when He decides to interrupt my agenda for something He knows is far more important.

Take the last few weeks for example: I see there is painting, pruning, plumbing, building, and serving to do here in Vanuatu - so as Dani shops for our supplies and cooks her heart out (tonight was incredible homemade pizza!!!) and the nurses here and DTS School students run medical clinics, I throw myself into the practical work.

What I don't always see is fatherhood, careening towards me, every day a little closer.

Luckily there is one who sees, and He knows how to prepare.
So, as God would have it, every day I find myself feeling oddly strong emotions at less-than-convenient times. And when I've had enough of running away from how I feel by accomplishing tasks, I finally ask:

Father, why do I feel so insufficient?

...and in my heart I sense a subtle response.

"Because, Gabe, this situation reminds you of being a little boy who never felt like he lived up to people's expectations."

Well what do you want me to do with THAT?!?
(Is usually my incredulous response)

"I want you to learn to like him. I want you to like Gabe Kirkwood. Not just the "young man Gabe" - the one who performs well, and smiles warmly, and earns people's respect..."

"I want you to like the 'little boy Gabe Kirkwood', the one who hadn't quite figured that stuff out. The one who made mistakes, who didn't usually get it right."

Why? Why is this important now?

"Because you just may have a little boy soon, and if you do, he's going to be a lot like the boy you were!"

"...And because I have ALWAYS liked the little boy you were. Forgive yourself for everything you couldn't be... So you can love and accept your child with open arms, the way I've always accepted you."

Vanuatu - Life in the Valley

A flurry of activity has happened since I posted last week!  We've said goodbye to our teams bound for Israel, Honk Kong, and India, packed, flown to the island of Efate (Vanuatu) with the remaining teams, re-established connections with friends here, and moved into the apartment we'll stay at for the duration of our outreach.

We are situated in a lush jungle valley called Teouma which is outside Port Vila, the capital and largest urban center in Vanuatu.  Just a couple of dirt roads away from us is our organization's "Family Care Centre" (the "FCC"), where we spend most of our days.  The FCC is a facility offers multiple clinics each week, giving free primary healthcare to anyone who walks in! 

I have been able to take charge of household projects, planting trees, painting furniture, and doing the odd carpentry/maintenance jobs, and Dani has been cooking up an incredible array of delicious and healthy meals!

All in all, it has been wonderful to take care of the practical household needs for Anna and Mel (the FCC's two nurses and only current long-term staff) so that they (and our outreach teams) can focus all their energy on their patients, giving love, connection, and practical medical care to whoever comes in.

Although it's very different from our last outreach (which was in the bush out in the outer islands) we both feel privileged to be here, and when we asked God to guide us to a verse in the Bible that can direct our purpose and focus our efforts here, the last verse that He used to speak to me was Matthew 20:28...

Here Jesus explained that He did not come to be served, but to serve others, and to pour out His life.  It is good and freeing to do simple tasks to serve other people and release them into effective work!

Thanks for your prayers, we appreciate our friends and family!